وَكَذَٰلِكَ

جَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ

أُمَّةٗ

وَسَطٗا

لِّتَكُونُواْ

شُهَدَآءَ

عَلَى

ٱلنَّاسِ

وَيَكُونَ

ٱلرَّسُولُ

عَلَيۡكُمۡ

شَهِيدٗاۗ

وَمَا

جَعَلۡنَا

ٱلۡقِبۡلَةَ

ٱلَّتِي

كُنتَ

عَلَيۡهَآ

إِلَّا

لِنَعۡلَمَ

مَن

يَتَّبِعُ

ٱلرَّسُولَ

مِمَّن

يَنقَلِبُ

عَلَىٰ

عَقِبَيۡهِۚ

وَإِن

كَانَتۡ

لَكَبِيرَةً

إِلَّا

عَلَى

ٱلَّذِينَ

هَدَى

ٱللَّهُۗ

وَمَا

كَانَ

ٱللَّهُ

لِيُضِيعَ

إِيمَٰنَكُمۡۚ

إِنَّ

ٱللَّهَ

بِٱلنَّاسِ

لَرَءُوفٞ

رَّحِيمٞ

١٤٣

  Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islâmic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a just (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind¹ and the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) be a witness over you. And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from those who would turn on their heels (i.e. disobey the Messenger). Indeed it was great (heavy) except for those whom Allâh guided. And Allâh would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allâh is full of Kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.